Any fellow sufferers?

They recently did a MRI of my neck and found this.

I'm waiting for a call back from the neurologist right now but I'm curious what my future holds.

I did some preliminary research and found it's apparently a fancy way to say "spine arthritis." There was some injury that did me in and now I'm paying the price.

What I can say is I've got pain, weakness ,and tingling in my right arm, headaches, and twitching in myright eye, none of which was present before December.

I had surgery on my lower back about 6 years ago, and have 100% success. A friend just had a cervical disc replaced and is recovering well. Another friend had 2 cervical discs replaced about 5 years ago and is back to normal (but a bit of a rough recovery process).

If you do end up with surgery, they're having good results these days. Be sure your docs do a good full workup to determine if you are a good candidate for surgery.

The usual approach is first physical therapy, oral anti-inflammatories, injections, and then if still not good they will consider surgery.

Good luck!

The two vertebrae connect at three points, the disc plus the two facets. Those are gliding joints that control the motion of the joint. If the disc gets thinner, the two facets are jammed together, causing pain. A better question is why is your disc getting thinner? Reverse cervical curve, or a straight neck? Those incorrect curvatures greatly increase pressure on the discs. If you can return the neck to the correct curve, the excessive load on the discs will help the discs partly return to their original height.

Sometimes a very tightly rolled hand towel placed at the apex of the incorrect curve, will work well. Lay on the towel for at least 20 minutes/day. Towel has to be in the CORRECT spot. Towel size may have to be increased over time. It has to be large enough to put pressure on the joint, but not so large as to be uncomfortable.

Also if the neck is not straight in an AP (front-back) view, the towel will help but you need some expert/professional help returning the neck to a vertical shape.

Tingling in the right arm would be from nerve root entrapment. As the disc becomes thinner, the hole that the nerve root exits becomes vertically shorter. Also the body reinforces the disc by adding bone around the disc. Often some of the bone grows into the neural canal, causing various symptoms in the arm. Headaches could be caused directly from compression at the facets. Right eye twitching, could have various causes all related to the neck issues.

Thanks for the info. I really hope it doesn't come down to surgery but I know I'm in good hands if it does.

The folks at the pain clinic seem to think a steroid injection will help, and given my track record with them over such things (botox, trigger point injections) I'm very inclined to believe that they'll at least be able to get my symptoms back to baseline, though the weakness will come back only via PT, which I'm also working on via home exercises.

 
Having had some experience with back issues and physical therapy, their terminology threw me for a loop. I had always thought of a facet as one faces on a cut stone, like a diamond. But these ortho people pronounce them "facette". Same thing, it seems, just a flat surface.

You probably do have disc degeneration, but as one with an abundance of C-spine surgery experience, I believe that the facets sit on each side of the vertebrae at the exit point of the nerve roots. Doesn’t matter much what’s specifically causing the symptoms you’re describing, it appears pressure is being exerted on the nerves at 3-4. Are X-rays the only diagnostics you had thus far? Are you seeing a neurologist? Whatever is going on, it’s developing rapidly, don’t delay a definitive diagnosis and Tx plan.

BTW, prior to surgery, I had 2 sets of 2 injections (4 total) of a corticosteroid/analgesic cocktail into the inner space between facets at C2-C3. Helped for a short time with pain. I don’t see how the injections would help you with the numbness.
T

As a survivor of very successful four-level cervical fusion surgery (C3-C7), I will say that it’s very important to get as much information as you can before surgery. That means interviewing surgeons—-thoroughly.

My primary care physician gave me a list. I started talking to the candidates. The guy who won had done his felllowship at Washington University in St. Louis, and their group did the Blues, Cardinals, and the then-St. Louis Rams. I had my guy. I am very grateful that I recovered completely and am able to function normally with no restrictions.

I had to take the injections first, too. Insurance companies want to see if that procedure works (which it sometimes does) before proceeding to the extremely expensive surgery.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
You probably do have disc degeneration, but as one with an abundance of C-spine surgery experience, I believe that the facets sit on each side of the vertebrae at the exit point of the nerve roots. Doesn’t matter much what’s specifically causing the symptoms you’re describing, it appears pressure is being exerted on the nerves at 3-4. Are X-rays the only diagnostics you had thus far? Are you seeing a neurologist? Whatever is going on, it’s developing rapidly, don’t delay a definitive diagnosis and Tx plan.

BTW, prior to surgery, I had 2 sets of 2 injections (4 total) of a corticosteroid/analgesic cocktail into the inner space between facets at C2-C3. Helped for a short time with pain. I don’t see how the injections would help you with the numbness.
T

They found it in my MRI, along with a nodule on my thyroid that's probably benign (since my blood work came back clean I'm told it's much less likely to be something nasty but they still want a biopsy).

I do have a neurologist along with my pain specialist, who was the one who requested the MRI. My sister the former ICU nurse adores my neuro, so while his staff may piss me off on occasion with lack of communication I won't let him go.

I definitely have (mild) disc herniation in a few other joints - C6-C7 and I want to say B4-B5). Mild spondylitis too.

Pain clinic is the one that recommended and is doing the injection. Their job is symptom control and nothing else; their hope is that reducing the inflammation will reduce the pressure on the nerve root.

I'm still waiting on my neurologist to review my MRI and get back to me on a game plan. I spoke to his nurse Friday, worst case I end up speaking with him about it when I see him next month for my migraines.

I suppose the good news is that the pain is unpleasant enough that my hip doesn't bother me all that much (arthritis and more).

quote:

Originally posted by vulrath:
I definitely have (mild) disc herniation in a few other joints - C6-C7 and I want to say B4-B5). Mild spondylitis too.

I expect you mean L4 & 5, pretty common location for disc herniation/degeneration. Sounds like you’re doing what you need to do. I did a couple of YT videos, post surgery, a couple years ago. In two years the first only garnered 150 views, so I guess it’s not as good as I thought it was. If you think it (they) might be helpful, let me know.

I wish you the best going forward. I don’t know about Memphis, but I imagine some of the best neurosurgeons in the country operate out of Vanderbilt. I traveled from Wyoming to Phoenix for my surgery, I certainly wouldn’t let a few miles be a hindrance to my medical care.

Yes, you're correct. L4&L5. I also have had issues with L5-S1 in the past, but it's been a while. That got mostly better with steroids and PT, but I still have lingering issues with my left leg that I'm told are muscular in nature.

We have Campbell Clinic and Semmes Murphy here. CC's claim to fame is being the contract holder for the team doctor for the Memphis Grizzlies. Funny story - in high school my brother needed shoulder surgery and he was seeing said team doctor. His surgery date was rescheduled 3 times because they kept winning and getting sent to more out of state games.

I've got the word of a couple of doctor friends on who they'd go to, but I'll keep that in mind. I've got a ton of friends in the Nashville area who would be willing to put me up until I can drive home if it came to that.